Doc ~
Thanks for sharing the positive emotions of your return visit to the in-patient re-hab unit of the hospital where you had your surgery. I'm pleased to learn that it was such a pleasurable experience for you.
That being stated, I'm one of the many, apparently, that left the hospital (5 days after my surgery) and, metaphorically, never looked back. I didn't need PT so that makes my hospital experience a bit different than yours, which is, undoubtedly, a factor in our differing approach to returning to the hospital as a visitor instead of a patient. However, I think the return visit was definitely beneficial for you and that is key when discussing this.
Although I was treated well while a hospital patient, I considered my stay something I had to get through and not something I wished to relive, even as a visitor. When I underwent my FSR treatments, I returned to a cancer (radiation) center located adjacent to the hospital, but it was totally removed from where I was operated on and initially recuperated. I never entertained any desire to make a return visit to the ICU room where I was for 4 days or the semi-private room I was in my final day as a post-op hospital patient back in June, 2006.
I don't believe one can ever erase such a major medical episode as AN surgery from one's memory - and I've never wanted to. However, I consider it a part of my life history and not something I dwell on, other than to use my experience to try and help other AN patients via these forums. Still, a 'return visit' to the hospital re-hab unit that was constructive for you is definitely a good decision and, again, I thank you for telling us about it, as other AN patients may wish to do something similar one day. I won't be one of them, but, so what? As unique individuals we each handle our AN experience in our own way. There really isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' in these situations, only our individual choices that 'work' well for us. I'm glad you found one that 'worked' so well for you, Doc.
Jim
